NEWS ON SAS TRAVEL MARKET
ILANGA TRAVEL(S) TO OYSTER BAY, ST. FRANCIS,
ADDO AND TSITSIKAMMA
New Kwandwe Melton Manor New
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, situated on 22 000 hectares of malaria-free Big Five wilderness in the heart of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, has officially opened its newest lodge, Melton Manor.
Set in a beautiful location with sweeping views of the Great Fish River, Melton Manor is a sole-use safari villa with four en-suite bedrooms. This spacious u-shaped frontier farmhouse is characterised by high ceilings and deep verandas overlooking the central courtyard and its inviting swimming pool.
The bedrooms each have their own spacious bathroom and innovative “butler hatches” for discreet room service. The interactive farm-style kitchen is abuzz with chefs cooking up wholesome and delicious dishes with Eastern Cape flair. Experience the bush with your own ranger/tracker team and a
4×4 safari vehicle at your disposal 24 hours a day!
Safaris at Kwandwe include twice-daily game drives in open
4×4 safari vehicles, night drives showcasing an exhilarating
array of nocturnal wildlife, bush sundowners, picnics, and
guided bush walks. The Carnivore Research @ Kwandwe
Specialist Safari is a unique and informative introduction to
Kwandwe’s fascinating carnivore world. Guests can also
partake in the Frontiers @ Kwandwe Specialist Safari, a
specialised historic adventure into Frontier Country, led by
Kwandwe’s resident historian and raconteur, Alan Weyer.
News Samara Private Game Reserve
Welcome to Samara Private Game Reserve in the malaria free
Eastern Cape where time stands still, inviting you to pause,
breathe, reflect.
Explore a world of vast open spaces and distant horizons.
Discover the Africa you have dreamed of. Situated within 70 000 acres of indigenous wilderness, Karoo Lodge revives the
traditional luxury of a colonial family-owned homestead.
Encounter the magnificent wildlife of the Karoo with its abundant game species and endangered birds.
Free of the restrictions of the Big 5 reserves, here your professional guide will introduce you to the highly
endangered Cheetah, enabling you to participate in an exclusive interaction with these graceful predators. An unforgettable experience that will leave you yearning to return.
We flew in from George per private charter/seat in charter to Samara - the airstrip is only suitable for small planes. Flying time ca 1 hour.
Samara is situated near Graaff Reinet, a sweet old
farmhouse in the middle of the wilderness - with an out of
Africa feeling.
Karoo Lodge languishes in the perfect serenity of the
reserves pristine wilderness. Combining colonial comforts
with the rugged essence of Mother Nature, the lodge
indulges you with exceptional service, meaning you can kick back and allow the tranquillity of the Karoo envelop your soul. If you choose, you can leave the game for another day and indulge yourself in the luxury of your Suite and let our experienced therapist ease you into a new dimension with her aromatic oils and local charm.
The main house offers an inside and outside sitting area, a restaurant/dining area, a pool, as well as rooms (3) in the main house. On the property away from the main house, are 5 suites, which are very large with en suite bathroom, patio, glass doors, outside shower, small lounge, etc. - VERY nice
indeed !!!
The food was excellent - a big "Thank you" to head chef Quintinn van Rensburg and team.
Upcoming Events in and around Cape Town
June /July : 18th, Nelson Mandelas Birthday, Cape Town Fashion Week
Aug : V&A Waterfront Spring Flower Show, Stellenbosch Wine Festival
Sep : Hermanus Whale Festival
By Michaela Soule
Oyster Bay, St. Francis, Addo and Tsitsikamma
Oyster Bay Lodge (upper middle class)
The lodge is set on 235 hectares of unspoilt landscape and incorporates magnificent dunes, woods, river deltas, beaches, wetlands, lagoons and home to free roaming horses.
Oyster Bay Lodge is the ideal destination to start (coming from Port Elizabeth) or finish (coming from Cape Town) the Garden Route.
- Oyster Bay Lodge is situated on private property offering beautiful hiking opportunities in coastal environment, Horse riding, beaches, Champagne decks above beach, look out view point etc.
- German speaking management - young and very friendly
- Pool and Restaurant on site - management cooks for the guests
- 3 rooms (guest rooms- King, double and twin), 1x Family cottage (King and 2x singles, 4 Chalets (king/Twin) with fireplace - under floor heating - could be used as soft self-catering cottages
- Bar in main house - chalets equipped with kitchenette
- Ocean and coastal garden views and free running horses
- Recommended stay would be 2 nights, as guests otherwise would not experience the beauty and variety of activities that Oyster Bay Lodge offers
next stop: St Francis Bay is situated 90 km west of Port Elizabeth. It is a holiday town situated alongside the Indian Ocean . 50 % of the town is constructed in and around the largest man made web of canals and waterways in Africa. The area is known for its long safe sandy beaches, good surfing and rock fishing, pleasant walks and quiet lifestyle. The weather is temperate with warm, sunny and dry summers.
St. Frances- The Dunes Guest Farm (upper middle class)
- Very beautiful 4-star graded guest farm set in well cared for
gardens
- Lovely pool area with little "boma"
- 6 rooms and 1x Family unit - all Twin and terrace and full
bathrooms with shower and bath and under floor heating
- Restaurant on property for Breakfast (full English breakfast
buffet), lunch and dinner
Cape St. Francis - Lyngenfjord House (middle class)
- 4-star graded guest house
- right next to Cape St. Francis Bay
- Ideal for easy-going younger couples travelling - nice for surfers and swimming
- Young management
The Sands in St. Francis (upper class)
- Beautifully and charming house right above the beach with steps down to the beach
- Kids on request under 8 years - above 8 years very welcome
- Restaurant on site for breakfast, lunches and dinners
- Very professional and friendly staff
- 5 rooms in total
o African Moon (King) full bathroom - Jacuzzi bath, sea view
o African Beach (King) full bathroom, sea view
o African Ocean (Twin) full bathroom, sea view
o African Dawn (Twin) full bathroom, sea view
o African Sunset (Honeymoon suite), full bathroom - Jacuzzi,
sea view
Addo
The Addo Elephant National Park is situated in the Eastern Cape Province 72km by road from Port Elizabeth. Proclaimed in 1931 to save the last survivors of the once numerous Eastern Cape elephants, the park consists of 12 126ha of gently undulating Valley Bushveld dominated mostly by the Spekboom, Portulacaria afra, which covers approximately 80% of the park area
Woodall 5-star Country House & Spa (upper class)
- Fantastic property close to Addo Elephant Park
- Very professional and friendly staff
- Restaurant in-house (very good food) and lovely wine list
- Spa with beautiful atmosphere ambience
- Newly built deck outside restaurant - very cosy with sunny bright colours - the ideal place to let a beautiful day end
- Rooms very tidy and beautifully decorated with large bathrooms and out-door showers
Halstead Farm B&B (middle class)
- Province Style farmhouse
- Large rooms with option for families to bring children
(accommodated in same room)
- large bathrooms with shower
and bath
- All bedrooms Twin/King with option on child cot in room
- Lovely garden and pool
Cosmos Cuisine (middle class)
- Very nice property with the extra touch
- Lovely gardens and very professional and friendly staff
- Large rooms with en-suite bathrooms and big terrace for guests
- "Rock" pool swimming area and large outside areas for guests
- Restaurant on site with daily changing menus - lovely set tables - lot of attention for detail
Hitgeheim Country Lodge (upper middle class)
- Very nice property above Addo overlooking mountains and citrus plantations
- All 5 separate houses, beautifully decorated rooms and bathrooms with outdoor showers, private terrace and lovely views
- Fine dining in the evening or a generous breakfast each morning
- Pool area overlooking the valley
- On route from Addo to Hitgeheim you will pass all the breading herds of ostriches, sables and buffalo
- Activities on property: Walks, farm tours, tours to Addo Elephant Park
- Very nice owners/hosts
River Bend Lodge (upper class)
- Fantastic 5-star property, lovely gardens and very nice ambience
- 8 rooms/houses very light, friendly and spacious
- Restaurant (fine cuisine) on property
- Terraces with each room - rates all included
- All room twin/king sized beds
- All rooms with shower and bath
- River Bend is within a private concession of Addo - lots of
game walking pass the lodge
Tsitsikamma
Located in the heart of the Garden Route in the Coastal
area between George and Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma
Coastal National Park offers you a combination of marine
and forest Wildlife.
The Fernery - Tsitsikamma (upper class)
- The entrance is not what one would expect from this
fabulous accommodation, as you arrive in a fernery nursery to check in, but the accommodation is very beautiful and a must for nature lovers
- 8 km of the main road - all gravel road
- 8 chalets (twin beds)
- 1 lodge (2x double, 2x twin) Honeymoon (Queen)
- 2 self-catering units (twin and double beds)
- Breakfast for chalets guests in Fernery Restaurant
- All accommodation offer bath and showers and stunning decks and terraces with views of the forest
- Guests staying in the main lodge look down a 200 meter drop towards the ocean - wow
- Kids all age are welcome
- Nearby sea - but no access to the sea or beach from the property
Armagh Country House Tsitsikamma (middle class)
- 6 bedrooms (King, Twin, and Queen) 2 of the rooms have
shower only (Waterbassie and Essenhout) all other rooms with bath and shower
- Rooms are furnished nicely
- Restaurant on site - lovely menu and homemade food
- Views into the garden and partially mountains views
- Lovely gardens and pool area happy travels, ’til next time Michaela
